Algeria ranks tenth worldwide by total area, after Russia, Canada, the United States, China, Brazil, Australia, India, Argentina, and Kazakhstan.
Algeria covers about 2.38 million square kilometres, making it Africa’s largest country by total area. Most of its territory lies in the Sahara, while the more densely populated northern region borders the Mediterranean Sea and includes the Atlas mountain systems.
Algeria became independent from France in 1962 after a major war of independence. Its size is sometimes underestimated because population and settlement are concentrated in the north, whereas the Sahara occupies most of the national territory.
Algeria reclaimed the African area lead after the 2011 independence of South Sudan, which reduced Sudan’s territory. Standard global lists now place Algeria tenth, ahead of Sudan and Libya.